Finally Warrington’s year, contentious calls, injury crisis, and more Leeds Rhinos v Warrington Wolves talking points

Warrington Wolves have knocked off Leeds Rhinos to make it to the Super League Grand Final for the first time since 2018.

Wire came out as 14-12 winners in an intense game at Headingley where just two points, the winning two, were scored in the second half.

Leeds were hit hard by injuries in the build-up to the game and even in the warm-up when they lost Chris Hankinson and ultimately, you have to wonder what difference those injuries made.

James Bentley scored the opener after just five minutes but Ryan Hall levelled the scores. Leeds took back the lead through a Jake Connor score, however, Wire were level at the half after Luke Yates’ try.

A Ewan Irwin penalty was the only score of the second half as he knocked over from 25 yards out and whilst Jake Connor had a penalty attempt in the final seconds to equalise, his kick from 62 metres out fell short.

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Leeds Rhinos and Warrington Wolves talking points

What if questions for the Rhinos

Leeds were the dominant team for 90% of the season but they simply ran out of steam, losing their last three regular season games at home after having not lost at Headingley all year prior to that.

The injury to Lachie Miller in round 26 was a brutal blow but then losing all of Maika Sivo, Ash Handley, Jack Bird and then Chris Hankinson before this game left them decimated in the backs.

Their pack was still certainly good enough to win this game but the questions at Headingley will surely be asking what if those injuries had not happened.

Finally Wire’s year?

It’s been 71 years since Warrington last won a league title and yet they’re now 80 minutes from breaking that streak, and given this result, you wouldn’t back against them.

They’re certainly have to be better against either Wigan or Wakefield, who play on Saturday night, but there is another gear in this side. Their attack was not on form but their desire, desperation and defence was there for all to see.

Performances don’t matter in the play-offs and Sam Burgess will remind his side of that, who now sit 80 minutes away from history and have made it back to Old Trafford for the first time since 2018.

Contentious calls

Ewan Irwin’s penalty split the sides in the end but whether it should have been a penalty is a big talking point.

George Williams was ran off the ball by James McDonnell but whether Williams sought contact first of whether McDonnell genuinely escorted him is a close call. Opinions will surely different depending on who you support but it’s a very tough call.

Another tough call, that was certainly correct, came in the 78th minute when Jake Connor’s 40/20 was overturned on a captain’s challenge by Warrington. That decision was correct but it shows how those two major moments went opposite ways and that’s proven crucial.

80 minutes completed and @WarringtonRLFC have secured their spot in the Grand Final 🔥

See you at Old Trafford 😎#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/bDaEBWSdlG

— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) September 25, 2026